United States Freight Brokerage - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The united states freight brokerage market size is expected to grow from USD 19.68 billion in 2025 to USD 21.28 billion in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 30.17 billion by 2031 at 7.23% CAGR over 2026-2031. This report is Segmented by Service (FTL and More), Equipment Type (Dry Van, Tanker, and More), Haul Length (Long-Haul, Regional, and Local), Business Model (Traditional Freight Brokerage and More), End-User Industry (Manufacturing & Automotive and More), Customer Size (Small Businesses and More), and Geography (Northeast and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

United States Freight Brokerage Market Trends and Insights

E-Commerce Volume Surge and Next-Day Delivery Expectations

United States e-commerce sales exceeded USD 1.1 trillion in 2024, and fulfillment centers now sit within 50 miles of 90% of the population. These dense networks compress delivery windows to a single day, prompting shippers to engage brokers that aggregate regional carriers and can guarantee capacity in real time. Amazon added 1,000 last-mile delivery stations, spawning short shuttle runs that brokers match against backhaul capacity. Traditional retailers such as Walmart accelerated last-mile technology adoption, broadening demand for brokers able to orchestrate multi-leg, time-sensitive flows. Order cycles have shifted from weekly to daily replenishment, requiring live truck-location data and mobile integrations rather than phone-based dispatch. Platforms delivering rate quotes in under 30 seconds continue to win bids in this fast-turn environment.

Highly Fragmented Carrier Base Increases Broker Relevance

More than 1.2 million active motor carriers operate in the United States, and 97% run fleets smaller than 20 trucks. The long tail of micro-fleets lacks the balance sheets and back-office systems to bid on enterprise freight, creating an information asymmetry that brokers monetize through load aggregation and faster payment cycles. Driver turnover at small carriers exceeded 90% in 2024, and many owner-operators rely on brokers for fuel advances and same-day pay. This fragmentation protects shippers from single-carrier failure because brokers can reroute cargo within hours. It also shields brokers from default risk and stabilizes service levels despite frequent carrier exits.

Spot-Rate Volatility Compresses Brokerage Margins

Dry-van spot rates fluctuated between USD 1.45 and USD 2.10 per mile during 2024, a 45% swing that quickly erodes broker margins when contract pricing lags by several months. As shippers resist mid-cycle rate resets, brokers either absorb losses or exit unprofitable lanes, as evidenced by a 280-basis-point margin decline reported by C.H. Robinson in Q2 2024. Echo Global Logistics responded with dynamic pricing that re-quotes monthly, lowering margin volatility but creating forecasting challenges for procurement teams. Asset-heavy brokers can cushion swings with their own equipment, but pure intermediaries remain fully exposed.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Rapid Digitization of TMS And API Integrations
• Shipper Demand for Carbon-Optimized Routing
• Driver Shortage and Capacity Unpredictability

Segment Analysis

Full-Truckload occupied 63.63% of the United States freight brokerage market in 2025, reflecting its primacy in high-volume automotive and retail shipments. Yet Less-than-Truckload is set to grow at an 8.79% CAGR between 2026-2031 as retailers split loads into smaller, daily shipments to cut inventory carrying costs. The United States freight brokerage market size for LTL is projected to expand steadily as brokers integrate multi-stop routing algorithms and consolidate partial loads across shippers. FedEx Freight recorded 12% LTL volume growth in Q3 2024, highlighting how fragmented demand favors brokers who can orchestrate dock schedules efficiently. FTL brokers, meanwhile, rely on digital boards to match backhauls and curb empty miles. Yellow Corporation’s exit removed 12% of national LTL capacity, pushing brokers to pay premium rates but also opening a service gap that tech-savvy intermediaries have begun to fill.

LTL growth is also propelled by regional distribution strategies that position stock closer to consumers. Brokers offering hybrid FTL-LTL consolidation services capture incremental margin on both sides of the transaction. Damage-claim risk is higher on multi-stop moves, so brokers with automated claims handling and enhanced cargo insurance policies gain competitive traction. FTL remains indispensable for long-haul replenishment but is maturing, whereas LTL offers outsized upside as e-commerce order sizes shrink.

Dry Van accounted for 44.57% of 2025 equipment revenue, but Refrigerated Van tonnage is projected to outpace all other trailer types at a 9.89% CAGR between 2026-2031. Pharmaceutical Good Distribution Practice rules and grocery e-commerce growth require continuous temperature control and sensor-based monitoring, services that command 20-30% rate premiums. The United States freight brokerage market size for reefer freight is therefore rising faster than underlying volume as brokers pass through compliance-related surcharges. Flatbed and step-deck equipment enjoy steady demand from infrastructure projects funded under the USD 110 billion roads-and-bridges program. Tanker trailers retain a niche around chemicals and bulk liquids but face stricter EPA oversight, limiting brokerage participation.

Dry Van utilization slipped to 92% in 2024 as capacity outstripped demand, suppressing margins. Conversely, the reefer fleet grew only 2% annually versus 6-8% demand, tightening supply. Brokers that invest in temperature-tracking telematics differentiate themselves and can mitigate spoilage risk, especially in high-value pharmaceutical lanes. Specialized trailers - car carriers, livestock haulers, pneumatic tanks - remain small but profitable sectors where deep carrier relationships provide defensible earnings.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Service
  • Full-Truckload (FTL)
  • Less-than-Truckload (LTL)
  • Others
• By Equipment / Trailer Type
  • Dry Van
  • Refrigerated Van
  • Flatbed / Step-Deck
  • Tanker (Bulk Liquid and Chemical)
  • Others
• By Haul Length
  • Long-Haul (More than 500 miles)
  • Regional (100-500 miles)
  • Local (Lesser than 100 miles)
• By Business Model
  • Traditional Freight Brokerage
  • Asset-Based Freight Brokerage
  • Agent Model Freight Brokerage
  • Digital Freight Brokerage
• By End-User Industry
  • Manufacturing and Automotive
  • Construction and Infrastructure Projects
  • Oil, Gas, Mining and Chemicals
  • Agriculture and Food / Beverage
  • Retail, FMCG and Wholesale Distribution
  • Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
  • E-commerce and 3PL Fulfilment
  • Other End-User Industry
• By Customer Size
  • Large Enterprise Shippers (Greater than USD 100 M)
  • Mid-Market Shippers (USD 10-100 M)
  • Small Businesses (Lesser than USD 10 M)
• By Geography
  • Northeast
  • Midwest
  • Southeast
  • Southwest
  • West

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• Allen Lund Company
• ArcBest Corporation
• Arrive Logistics
• BlueGrace Logistics
• BNSF Logistics
• C.H. Robinson
• Convoy Inc.
• Echo Global Logistics
• GlobalTranz (WWEX)
• Hub Group
• J.B. Hunt Transportation
• Landstar System, Inc.
• Mode Global
• Nolan Transportation Group
• Red Technologies
• Redwood Logistics
• Schneider FreightPlus
• SunteckTTS
• Total Quality Logistics (TQL)
• Trinity Logistics
• Uber Freight
• United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS)
• Worldwide Express
• XPO, Inc.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support